Magazine for annulary capillary lancets

ABSTRACT

A device for receiving a body fluid for analysis, comprising a container and at least one sample-receiving unit which can be impinged upon by the body fluid at a receiving point and which can be extracted from a guide chamber of the container by means of a drive unit. According to the invention, a coupling device is provided in order to couple the sample receiving unit to the drive unit to ensure back and forth movement between the guide chamber and the receiving point.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/178,810 filed Jul. 11, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,740,599,which is a continuation of International Patent Application No.PCT/EP2004/000117 filed Jan. 10, 2004, which claims foreign priority toGerman Patent Application 103 02 501.4 filed Jan. 23, 2003, which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The invention concerns a device and a method for receiving a body fluidfor analysis according to the preamble of the independent patent claims.

Single-use or rapid tests are known for patient self monitoringespecially in the case of diabetic diseases in which small amounts of abody fluid are applied to an analytical test element in order todetermine a metabolic quantity in an automated measuring process.Spring-driven lancing aids for collecting capillary blood have beendeveloped especially for the blood glucose determination which are forexample placed on a finger pad by the user in order to collect asufficient amount of blood for the subsequent analysis by a puncturethat should cause as little pain as possible. The blood which comes outis dabbed onto a test strip as a sample receiving unit which is ejectedfrom a measuring instrument and this test strip is discarded as aconsumable after the measurement is completed. Apart from the detailedsteps which are still time-consuming, a particular problem in this fieldis the risk of contamination or infection by the uncontrolled release ofconsumables into the environment.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantagesoccurring in the prior art and to optimize a system or method of theabove-mentioned type to enable a simple and substantiallysituation-independent operation even for laymen and to ensure aparticularly hygienic handling.

SUMMARY

The combination of features stated in each of the independent patentclaims is proposed to achieve this object. Advantageous embodiments andfurther developments of the invention are derived from the dependentclaims.

The invention is based on the idea of driving a sample receiving unit assuch and to furnish it with suitable elements for this purpose.Accordingly a coupling device is proposed according to the invention forcoupling the sample receiving unit to the drive unit for a forwards andbackwards movement between the guide chamber and the receiving site.Hence the user does not have to touch the sample receiving unit but canallow this to be automatically performed by the system. As a result, themeasurement can be accelerated and carried out with a high degree ofreliability and safety, and by recassetting or return into thecontainer, it is possible to ensure a hygienic handling and disposal.For the patient it means a considerable simplification not least becauseit can be used discreetly without at once for example being recognizedas a diabetic.

Another improvement in this regard is achieved by the coupling devicepreferably having automatically operating connecting means to make anddisengage a form-fitting connection between the drive unit and samplereceiving unit whereby the drive unit and sample receiving unit areseparated from one another in a starting position. This can beadvantageously achieved by the coupling device having at least oneengaging means that can be moved between a release position and anengaging position in a distance-dependent manner during the forwards andbackwards movement in order to couple the drive unit and samplereceiving unit. For a self-controlled process, it is advantageous whenthe coupling device has a guide block and in particular one that isformed by an inclined bevel of the guide chamber that can be tracked bythe engaging means.

The engaging means is advantageously located at a proximal end of thesample receiving unit and formed by at least one holding claw that canbe shifted into an engaging position under its own tension. Amechanically particularly simple embodiment provides that the drive unithas a plunger and that the engaging means automatically engages the headmember of the plunger when the plunger is advanced axially.

A special aspect of the invention consists of a hooked plunger as acoupling device that can be hooked onto the sample receiving unit. Withregard to the forwards and backwards movement, an advantageousembodiment provides that the hooked plunger has a thrusting flank thatbutts against the sample receiving unit. In order to return the samplereceiving unit, it is advantageous when the hooked plunger has a pullingflank that can engage with the sample receiving unit. In order tofacilitate the latching and unlatching, it is advantageous when thepulling and/or pushing flank are sloped towards their free lateral edgein the direction of the forwards movement.

In order to achieve a reliable coupling, it is advantageous when thehooked plunger has a cranked hook head such that the hook head protrudeslaterally when it couples to the sample receiving unit. Anotherimprovement results from the fact that the hooked plunger can be pivotedrelative to the sample receiving unit by means of a bevelled part of theplunger that moves against a guide contour during the forwards andbackwards movement. In this connection, it is advantageous when thehooked plunger is guided in a tapered guide sleeve which tapers in thedirection of the forwards movement where the tapered guide iseccentrically displaced relative to the central axis of the guidechamber.

In order to facilitate the piercing of a protective foil and themovement into the engaging position, it is advantageous when the hookedplunger has a spike-like prolongation pointing towards the guide chamberthat is shaped on the head of the hooked plunger.

In order to facilitate the latching and to ensure a defined securing ofthe sample receiving unit after it has been returned, it is advantageouswhen the sample receiving unit is held in a detachable manner by aclamping structure projecting into the guide chamber where the clampingforce of the clamping structure should be less than the maximum driveforce of the drive unit. In this connection it is advantageous for aspace-saving construction when the sample receiving unit has a proximalend section that can be elastically deformed in the clamping structureto open a passage cross-section of the guide chamber in order to latchand/or unlatch the hooked plunger. In order to achieve this, it isadvantageous when the clamping structure has two guide ribs which runparallel to one another along the guide chamber and two projectingclamping cams located in a clamping area of the guide chamber facing thedrive unit that are preferably laterally displaced relative to the guideribs.

The sample receiving unit advantageously has a recess as a couplingelement to hook the hooked plunger.

Another aspect of the invention is that a lancing unit is integratedinto the sample receiving unit to carry out a lancing movement towards abody part containing the body fluid. The puncture and sample collectioncan thus take place simply and hygienically in an automated sequence ofmovements while avoiding any handling by the user.

For a particularly advantageous telescope-like movement, it isadvantageous when the lancing unit can be displaced in a guide of thesample receiving unit in its direction of movement. In this connectionthe collection of body fluid can be optimized in such a manner that thelancing unit pierces the body part at a predetermined distance to a freefront area or receiving area of the sample receiving unit.

For a separate movement control, it is advantageous when the lancingunit can be coupled in a form-fitting manner with the drive unit bymeans of an allocated engaging means of the coupling device for areciprocating lancing movement. A particularly advantageousconstructional design provides that the drive unit has a double plungerformed by an outer plunger and an inner plunger that can belongitudinally displaced therein.

In order to control the sequence of movement of the sample receivingunit and/or lancing unit, the drive unit advantageously has a controldevice. In order to control a relative movement, it is also possiblethat the sample receiving unit has limit stops for the lancing unitpreferably formed by projecting edges of the body.

Another advantageous embodiment provides that the lancing unit can bedisplaced to a limited extent relative to the sample receiving unitagainst the restoring force of a spring member.

For a sequence of movement that is as energy saving as possible, it isadvantageous when the sample receiving unit can be moved in a slidingguide of the guide chamber.

In order to further improve the guidance and centering at the intendedsite of collection, it is advantageous when the sample receiving unit isheld preferably by means of a detent connection on a carriage that canbe moved backwards and forwards in the guide chamber by means of thedrive unit.

The sample receiving unit advantageously has a preferablycapillary-active transport channel for a flow connection that is largelyself-acting from the collection site to an evaluation site which cancomprise a special analytical test element for examining the body fluidon the sample receiving unit.

Another advantageous embodiment provides that the transport channel isformed by a ring slot between a lancet and a wall area of the samplereceiving unit surrounding the lancet. In order to favourably supportthe liquid transport, it is advantageous when the ring-shaped transportchannel has a widened cross-section in a transport area that faces awayfrom the bearing side of the lancet that is loaded by gravity.

In this connection it is favourable when the transport channeldischarges onto an analytical test field via a lateral outlet openingpreferably in the transport area. It is also possible that the transportchannel discharges onto an analytical test sleeve via an axial outletopening pointing in the direction of the channel.

In order to protect against damaging environmental influences, it isfavourable when the guide chamber is closed by a sealing foil at leastin the area of an ejection opening. In this connection the samplereceiving unit should have a free end area facing the direction ofpropulsion to pierce the sealing foil in order to prevent damage to thelancing unit.

The sample receiving unit is advantageously designed as a test strip orpreferably as an injection-molded test body in particular for examiningblood. Another advantageous variant provides that the sample receivingunit is formed by a hollow needle to suck in the sample fluid which ispreferably at the same time designed as a guide for the lancing unit.

In order to make it easier to operate, it is advantageous when thecontainer is designed as a magazine for storing a plurality of samplereceiving units. In an embodiment that is advantageous for controllingthe movement, the container as a drum magazine can have a plurality ofguide chambers running axially each for one sample receiving unit thatare distributed in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, aparticularly compact design provides that the container as a diskmagazine has a plurality of radial guide chambers each for one samplereceiving unit that are arranged radially.

The invention also extends to an analytical instrument, in particular atransportable hand device for medical diagnostics containing a deviceaccording to the invention for receiving a body fluid as well as tosample receiving units with a form-fitting drive coupling for use insuch devices.

With regard to the method, the above-mentioned object is achieved inthat the sample receiving unit that can be coupled to the drive unit isretracted into the guide chamber after sample collection. The body fluidis advantageously collected in the area of the receiving site by alancing movement of a lancing unit that can be moved in the samplereceiving unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further elucidated in the following on the basis of theembodiments shown schematically in the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a device for receiving and analysing capillary blood in anaxial cut-out perspective view.

FIG. 2 shows a sample receiving unit of the device according to FIG. 1in an initial position relative to a drive unit in a sectional axialcut-out.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show various positions of advance of the samplereceiving unit coupled to the drive unit for collecting blood from afinger pad in a drawing corresponding to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment with a strip-shaped sample receivingunit formed from foil parts in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows the sample receiving unit according to FIG. 6 in alongitudinal middle section running perpendicular to the plane of thestrip.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 show various positions of advance of the samplereceiving unit in a representation corresponding to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment with a strip-shaped sample receivingunit supported on a carriage in a view corresponding to FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 shows a partial middle section of the sample receiving unitaccording to FIG. 11 perpendicular to the plane of the strip.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment with a strip-shaped sample receivingunit supported on a spring member in a cut-out perspective view.

FIG. 14 shows the sample receiving unit according to FIG. 13 in arepresentation corresponding to FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of a disk-shaped device for receiving andexamining blood samples in an axial section.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show the device according to FIG. 15 in a startingposition and in a removal position of a sample receiving unit that canbe pushed out radially in a partial perspective view.

FIG. 18 shows another embodiment with a hooked plunger for an advancingand returning movement of a test strip in a longitudinal section.

FIG. 19 shows a cut-out side view of a head piece of the cranked hookedplunger.

FIG. 20 shows a view of the rear side of a test strip clamped in a guidechamber.

FIG. 21 shows a longitudinal section through the guide chamber accordingto FIG. 20 and

FIGS. 22, 23, and 24 show various positions of advance of the hookedplunger that can hook onto the test strip in a perspective view.

DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting and understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates. It will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat some of the features which are not relevant to the invention maynot be shown for the sake of clarity.

The analytical device shown in the drawing is used to examine blood forpatient self-monitoring especially for diabetics. The system comprises astorage container 10 having a plurality of guide chambers 12, each ofthe guide chambers having individually disposed sample receiving units14 with an optionally integrated lancing unit 16 and coupling devices 18to couple the sample receiving units or lancing units to a drive unit 20for a forwards and backwards movement between the respective guidechamber 12 and a receiving site 22 in the area of a body part 24 forcollecting blood.

As shown in FIG. 1 the container 10 is formed by a drum magazine 26constructed as a cylindrical injection molded part made of plastic. Theguide chambers 12 therein are distributed in the circumferentialdirection and extend axially continuously between an engagement opening28 at the front end for the drive unit 20 and a discharge opening 30 atthe opposite end for the sample receiving unit 14. The drum magazine 26has a central bore 32 with peripheral gearing 34 for a stepping switchmechanism that is not shown in order to align a sample receiving unit 14to be ejected in the feed axis 36 of the drive unit 20. Axial blind-endbores 38 to receive a desiccant 40 are arranged radially and offset tothe outside. For protection against damaging environmental effects, thefront ends of the guide chambers 12 are closed by a sealing foil 42which is only partially shown in FIG. 1.

The sample receiving units 14 are thus only intended for single use asso-called “disposables”. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a hollowcylindrical injection molded part 44 made of plastic is provided forthis purpose on which laterally projecting engaging means 46 of thecoupling device 18 and stopping pieces 48 are molded thereon. An axialchannel 50 serves as a mounting for the lancet 52 of the lancing unitsuch that it can be longitudinally displaced and at the same time servesat least in certain areas as a transport channel for the automaticcapillary transport of the collected blood fluid from a receivingopening 54 pointing in the direction of advance to a test field 56. Thistest field 56 is constructed in a known manner to detect a component ofthe collected blood sample and in particular for a glucose test.

The tip 58 of the lancet 52 is displaced back relative to the front edge60 of the sample receiving unit 14 in the feeding direction. Theproximal end of the lancet is provided with a second engaging means 62for a separate drive coupling that is mounted in the engaging means 46of the sample receiving unit.

Accordingly the drive unit 20 shown in FIG. 2 has a double plunger 64for coupling to the sample receiving unit 14 and the lancing unit 16.This is formed by an outer plunger 66 and an inner plunger 68 that canbe telescoped therein. The transfer of reciprocating movement occurs bymeans of a form-fitting connection of each of the engaging means 46, 62of the coupling device 18 as elucidated in more detail below.

The engaging means 46, 62 each comprise two holding claws 70, 72 whichcan be moved towards one another in a pincer-like (clamping) manner inorder to grip behind an associated head piece 74, 76 of the outerplunger 66 or inner plunger 68 in a form-fitting manner. It shiftsautomatically into the engagement position as the plunger advances bytracking an associated guide block 78, 80 (FIGS. 1 and 5) where theguide block 78 for the outer holding claws 70 is formed by the narrowsides of the guide chambers 12 provided with tapers 77 whereas the innerflanks of the outer engaging means 46 form a corresponding guide block80 for the holding claws 72 of the inner engaging means 62 of thelancing unit 16.

In the initial position shown in FIG. 2 of the drive unit 20, the drummagazine 26 can be rotated in a revolver-like manner in order toposition the desired sample receiving unit 14 relative to the drivecoupling. Then in a next step according to FIG. 3 the double plunger 64is moved into the guide chamber 12 while piercing the sealing foil 42over the engaging opening 28 and then butts against the front end of theengaging means 46, 62. After passing the bevels 77, the outer engagingmeans 46 firstly reaches its engaging position with the outer plunger 66according to FIG. 4. The lateral guidance is supported in this processby the broad sides 82 of the guide chamber 12 which as gliding faces areadapted to the outer contour of the sample receiving unit 14. During thefurther advance, the projecting free front edge 60 of the samplereceiving unit 14 pierces the sealing foil 42 over the ejection opening30 during which the lancet tip 58 that is set back remains protectedagainst accidental bending. As shown in FIG. 4, the advancing movementof the sample receiving unit 14 is stopped at the intended receivingsite 22 at a predetermined distance to the finger pad 84 so as not toimpede the escape of blood in the subsequent lancing process.

According to FIG. 5 the lancing process occurs with the outer engagingmeans 46 held in its engaging position secure from displacement byfurther advance of the inner plunger 68 whereby the inner engaging means62 of the lancing unit 16 also reaches its engaging position afterpassing the bevel 85. The lancing depth is limited by the displacementdistance that is available up to the indicated stop position of theinner engaging means 62 where the lancing speed should be as high aspossible for a painless puncture.

After the puncture the lancet 52 and the sample receiving unit 14 arereturned in the reverse sequence according to FIGS. 4 to 2. Only amicroscopic amount (microliter) of escaped blood is required at thepuncture site which flows automatically by capillary action to the testfield 56 via the capillary gap on the outer side of the lancet 52. Dueto the form-fitting connection of the engaging means 46, 62 which alsoexists in the return direction, the sample receiving unit 14 can beretracted completely into the guide chamber 12 until finally the stoppieces 48 come to rest against the wall step 86 of the guide chamber 12and the double plunger 64 is released again.

The embodiments described in the following are provided functionallywith the same components with the same reference numerals as elucidatedabove such that to this extent reference can be made thereto.

The embodiment example shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 differs primarily in thatthe sample receiving unit 14 is designed as a multilayer test strip 88.It is provided with a punched hole 90 in its proximal section to guidethe engaging means 62 of the lancing unit 16 where the arms of the strip92 formed in this manner have central and terminal stop shoulders 94,96. As shown in FIG. 7, the lancet 52 is guided in an intermediate layerof the test strip 88 in a longitudinal slot 50 which also leads as acapillary flow path to the test field 56 and can be formed by punchingor embossing. For technical manufacturing reasons, the test strip is notprovided with a separate engaging means but as elucidated in thefollowing its movement is controlled by the stop shoulders 94, 96 whoseaction is path-dependent whereas the lancing unit 16 tracks the guideblock 78 of the guide chamber 12 by means of its associated engagingmeans 62.

The sample collecting sequence shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 basicallycorresponds to the sequence according to FIGS. 3 to 5. A difference isthat the outer plunger 66 only abuts the facing front edge of the teststrip 88 in order to facilitate the piercing of the sealing foil 42 whenit advances. In the stop position of the terminal outer stop shoulders96 relative to the wall projection 86 that is effective on two sidesshown in FIG. 9, the engaging means 62 can pass the inner stop shoulders94 that face one another while elastically spreading the strip arm 92whereby the outer stop shoulders 96 engage in wall recesses that are notshown. After the puncturing the retracted engaging means 62 that iscoupled in a form-fitting manner with the inner plunger impinges againstthe inner stop shoulders 94 such that the test strip 88 is also returnedinto the guide chamber 12. The inner plunger 68 is in turn released byspreading the strip arms 92 in a stop position of the stop step 98 ofthe test strip 88 with the wall projection 86.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 the test strips 88 are heldin a carriage 100 to improve the guidance and the carriage can be movedlongitudinally in a draw-like manner in the respective guide chamber 12.The carriage 100 embraces an end section of the test strip 88 and isconnected by means of a detent 102. For the form-fitting coupling to thesingle plunger 104, a single holding claw 70 of the carriage 100 isprovided as an engaging means (FIG. 12). Instead of a lancing unitintegrated into the test strip 88, a separate lancing aid (not shown) isused.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 13 and 14 a lancing unit 16integrated into a test strip 88 can be connected in a form-fittingmanner in accordance with the previously described carriage 100 for areciprocating motion by means of an individual holding claw 70 as aengaging means with a single drive plunger 104. A spring clip 105 isprovided to transfer the movement onto the test strip 88. As it advancesa stop position of the foil strip 88 is reached relative to a wall step106 in which the lancet 52 can be moved further against the restoringforce of the spring clip 104 for puncturing.

As also in the case of the embodiment example of FIG. 7 the effectivecross-section of the transport channel 50 is limited to a ring gap bythe outer diameter of the lancet 52. Since the lancet does not lieexactly in the middle due to the effect of gravity, the gap is larger inthe area facing away from the bearing side. This area can beadditionally extended by an appropriate design in order to steer theblood flow and to guide it onto the test field 56 via a lateral outletopening.

The embodiment of FIGS. 15 to 17 comprises a flat disk-shaped magazine107 as a container 10 in which the guide chambers 12 extend radially.Hollow needles 108 are stored radially therein in a displaceable manneras sample receiving units 14. The hollow needles or sample tubes 108 inturn form a guide for a separately movable lancet 52. The drive couplingis by means of engaging means 46, 62 which can be moved into the frontadvance position shown in FIG. 12 by means of angled push rods 110, 112which successively engage parallel to the disk axis in the open-endedguide chambers 12 of the drive unit 20. The collected blood flows viathe hollow needle 108 axially to the sleeve-shaped test field 56 whoseresponse to an analyte can be optically detected through thecalotte-shaped window 114.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 to 24 the coupling device 18 has ahooked plunger 116 that can be coupled to the test strips 88 in a drummagazine 26 which is driven at its proximal end 118 for a reciprocatingmovement. The distal end of the hooked plunger 116 is provided with ahook head 120 that is angled over a knee piece 119. In accordance withFIG. 19 this has a driving flank 122 that abuts against the rear end ofa test strip 88 to advance the strip and a pulling flank 126 that canengage in a recess 124 of the test strip 88 to return the strip. Inorder to secure the stop position and to facilitate the disengagement,the flanks 122, 126 are sloped in the direction of advance towards theirfree lateral edge. A spiked projection 127 molded onto the front end ofthe hook head 120 with its tip pointing in the direction of advanceenables an easy piercing of a foil which tightly seals the guide chamber12.

The hooked plunger 116 is mounted in a guide sleeve 128 which can bealigned with the desired guide chamber by means of a drum or index wheel132 provided with conical centering openings 130 at the front end of thedrum magazine 26.

As best shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 the proximal end sections of the teststrips 88 are held in a detachable manner in their respective guidechamber 12 by a clamping structure 134. For this purpose, the clampingstructure 134 has two laterally spaced clamping cams 136 projecting intothe guide chamber 12 which interact with outwardly offset guide ribs 138extending longitudinally in the guide chamber 12. In this process thetest strip 88 that is clamped at its end is curved outwards at rightangles while bending elastically such that the test strip provides anextended engagement cross-section 140 for the hooked plunger 116.

FIGS. 22 to 24 illustrate the controlled guidance of the hooked plunger116 during the engagement and disengagement process. The angling of theplunger displaces the guiding cone 130 relative to the central axis ofthe guide chamber in the circumferential direction of the drum wheel 132whereby the hook head 120 projects laterally towards the test strip 88.When the spiked projection 127 is inserted, a lower wall 142 of theguide chamber 12 forms a guide surface until the knee piece 119 runs upagainst the bevel 144 of the guide cone 130. As a result the hook head120 is lifted during a pivoting movement of the hooked plunger 116 andthe pulling flank 126 engages behind the edge of the recess 124 whereasthe pushing flank 122 abuts against the end of the strip (FIG. 23). Asit advances further in the stop position of the pushing flank 122, theclamping force of the clamping structure 134 is overcome by the higherdriving force of the drive unit (not shown) whereby the test strip 88gets free of the clamping projections 136 and finally reaches thereceiving position. In this process, the cranked hooked plunger isguided and secured between the opposing walls 142 and 146 of the guidechamber 12.

During its return movement the upper portion 148 of the knee piece 119of the hooked plunger 116 impinges on the upper cone edge 150 of theguide cone 130 and as a result is pressed downwards until it disengagesin the clamping position of the test strip 88. The slope of the pullingflank 126 ensures that the blocking action is less than the maximumpulling force and the hooked plunger 116 again disengages from therecess 124. The guide sleeve 128 ensures that the hook head 120 does nothook onto the drum wheel 132 during the advance and return. The consumedtest strip 88 is held clamped in the correct position and it is possibleto advance to the next guide chamber in the magazine 26.

The invention claimed is:
 1. Device for receiving a body fluid foranalytical purposes comprising a container and at least one samplereceiving unit for a single-use test that can be pushed out of a guidechamber of the container by means of a drive unit and to which the bodyfluid can be applied at a receiving site, wherein the container isdesigned as a magazine for storing a plurality of sample receiving unitsand a coupling device to couple the sample receiving unit to the driveunit for a forwards and backwards movement between the guide chamber andthe receiving site; wherein the sample receiving unit has a free endwhere the body fluid is drawn into the sample receiving unit; whereinthe sample receiving unit is a test strip; and wherein the free end ofthe test strip is flat.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein thecoupling device has automatically operating form-fitting means to makeand disengage a form-fitting connection between the drive unit andsample receiving unit.
 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the driveunit and the sample receiving unit are separated from one another in aninitial position.
 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the couplingdevice has at least one engaging means to couple the drive unit andsample receiving unit in a form-fitting manner.
 5. Device according toclaim 4, wherein the engaging means can be moved in a distance-dependentmanner between a release position and an engaging position during theforwards and backwards movement.
 6. Device according to claim 4, whereinthe coupling device has a sliding guide block and in particular one thatis formed by an inclined bevel that can be tracked by the engagingmeans.
 7. Device according to claim 4, wherein the engaging means islocated at a proximal end of the sample receiving unit.
 8. Deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the engaging means is formed by at leastone holding claw that can be shifted into an engaging position under itsown tension.
 9. Device according to claim 4, wherein the drive unit hasa plunger and that the engaging means automatically engages a headmember of the plunger when the plunger is advanced axially.
 10. Deviceaccording claim 1, characterized in that the coupling device comprises ahooked plunger that can be hooked onto the sample receiving unit.
 11. Adevice for receiving a body fluid for analytical purposes, comprising acontainer having a guide chamber; a test strip disposed in the guidechamber; a plunger configured to extend into and retract from the guidechamber; a holding claw configured to couple the plunger with the teststrip; the guide chamber having a tapered section proximal the holdingclaw to engage the holding claw in a form fitting manner with theplunger as the plunger extends into the guide chamber; the test striphaving a free end where the body fluid is drawn into the test strip,wherein the test strip is configured for use with a separate lancingaid; the guide chamber extending axially between an engagement openingwhere the plunger is received and a discharge opening; the plunger beingmoveable from a disengaged position where the plunger is disengaged fromthe holding claw to a engaged position where the plunger engages theholding claw in the form fitting manner; the test strip being moveablerelative to the guide chamber from a retracted position where the freeend of the test strip is located inside the guide chamber to an extendedposition where at least the free end of the test strip extends outsidethe guide chamber from the discharge opening; and the plunger when inthe engaged position being configured to extend the test strip to theextended position and retract the test strip to the retracted position.12. The device of claim 11, further comprising: a carriage being movablelongitudinally in the guide chamber to guide the test strip, thecarriage embracing an end section of the test strip; and wherein theholding claw is integrated into the carriage.
 13. The device of claim12, further comprising: the test strip defining an opening at the endsection; and the carriage having a detent connected to the opening atthe end section of the test strip.
 14. The device of claim 11, furthercomprising: the container including a drum magazine with a plurality ofguide chambers, each of the guide chambers having an individual teststrip disposed therein; and the drum magazine being rotatable in arevolver-like manner to align the plunger with the test strip in one ofthe guide chambers.
 15. The device of claim 14, further comprising: theguide chambers being distributed in a circumferential direction andextend axially between an engagement opening where the plunger isreceived and a discharge opening; and a sealing foil covering thedischarge opening.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the drum magazinehas a central bore with peripheral gearing to align the test strip withthe plunger.
 17. The device of claim 11, further comprising: a sealingfoil covering the discharge opening, wherein the test strip isconfigured to puncture the sealing foil as the plunger advances the teststrip from the discharge opening of the guide chamber.
 18. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the plunger is a single plunger, and the holding clawis a single holding claw.
 19. The device of claim 11, wherein the teststrip includes a test field for detecting a component of the body fluid,and a transport channel with a receiving opening for transporting thebody fluid to the test field.
 20. A device for receiving a body fluidfor analytical purposes, comprising a container having a guide chamber;a test strip disposed in the guide chamber; a plunger configured toextend into and retract from the guide chamber; a holding clawconfigured to couple the plunger with the test strip; the guide chamberhaving a tapered section proximal the holding claw to engage the holdingclaw in a form fitting manner with the plunger as the plunger extendsinto the guide chamber; a lancet to which the holding claw is secured;and a spring clip coupling the holding claw to the test strip fortransferring movement of the plunger to the test strip.
 21. The deviceof claim 20, wherein the guide chamber has a wall step for stoppingadvancement of the test strip to allow the lancet to move further forpuncturing.
 22. The device of claim 20, further comprising: the teststrip including a test field for detecting a component of the body fluidand a longitudinal slot; the lancet being received in the longitudinalslot of the test strip; and a transport channel having a receivingopening for transporting the body fluid to the test field, the transportchannel being formed by a gap between the lancet and the test strip. 23.A method, comprising: coupling a plunger to a test strip in a guidechamber by advancing the plunger so that a guide block in the guidechamber pushes a holding claw of the test strip to engage the plunger ina form fitting manner, wherein the test strip is configured for use witha separate lancing aid; extending the free end of the test strip from adischarge opening of the guide chamber by advancing the plunger;collecting body fluid with the free end of the test strip; retractingthe test strip back into the discharge opening of the guide chamber byretracting the plunger while the holding claw remains engaged to theplunger in the form fitting manner; and decoupling plunger from theholding claw by retracting the plunger so that the holding claw moves toa position where the holding block no longer pushes the holding claw toengage the plunger in the form fitting manner.
 24. The method of claim23, wherein said extending the test strip includes puncturing a coverfoil that covers the discharge opening of the guide chamber.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, further comprising: wherein the guide chamber is oneof a plurality of guide chambers in a drum magazine, each of the guidechambers having a test strip disposed therein, wherein the guidechambers are distributed in a circumferential direction and extendaxially between an engagement opening and the discharge opening; androtating the drum magazine in a revolver-like manner to align theplunger with the guide chamber before said coupling the plunger to thetest strip.
 26. A method, comprising: coupling a plunger to a test stripin a guide chamber by advancing the plunger so that a guide block in theguide chamber pushes a holding claw of the test strip to engage theplunger in a form fitting manner; extending the test strip from adischarge opening of the guide chamber by advancing the plunger;collecting body fluid with the test strip; retracting the test stripback into the discharge opening of the guide chamber by retracting theplunger while the holding claw remains engaged to the plunger in theform fitting manner; decoupling the plunger from the holding claw byretracting the plunger so that the holding claw moves to a positionwhere the holding block no longer pushes the holding claw to engage theplunger in the form fitting manner; wherein the holding claw is securedto a lancet, wherein a spring clip couples the holding claw to the teststrip; during said extending the test strip the spring clip transfersmovement of the plunger to the test strip; and puncturing tissue withthe lancet by advancing the lancet with the plunger while stoppingadvancement of the test strip with a wall step in the guide chamber. 27.The method of claim 23, further comprising: wherein the test strip has afree end that is unable to cut tissue; and wherein said collectingincludes collecting the body fluid with the free end of the test strip.28. The method of claim 27, wherein the free end of the test strip isflat.
 29. The method of claim 27, further comprising: lancing anincision in tissue with a lancing aid that is separate from the teststrip before said collecting the body fluid.